Bowling ball cushion control mechanism



United States Patent [45] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 [54] BOWLING BALLCUSHION CONTROL MECHANISM 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/43, 273/53 [5 l 1 hit. A63d H00 [50] Field Search273/53, 49, 43(A), 43, 47 1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,306,955 12/1944 Karbusky 273/47 72 inventor Ronald A. Lenlnrt2,967,707 l/l96l Hedenskoog et al. 273/53x I 8462 W. 24!]! AVG Lakewood,Colorado 3,237,942 3/1966 Congelli et al 273/49X v 80215 3,319,9595/1967 Lenhart 273/53X 21 Appl. No. 733,731 3,375,006 3/l968 Davis273/s3x [22] Filed May 6 1968 i Continilation-in-part of Ser. No.627,803, 2:3 i; oechsle April 3, 1967- neyessenger AIQS'ITRAC'I: Amechanism for use on automatic pin spotting bowling machines to expeditethe return of the bowling ball tively with a dashpot cylinder whichabsorbs ball impact forces, repositions the cushion and reestablishes anaction force in the resilient element. Machine actuator and adjustmentelements to facilitate installation and use of the mechanism areprovided.

PATENTEUDEB 81970 3545754 sum; or 2 INVENTOR. RONALD A. LENHART ATTORNEY.1 BOWLINGBALL cushion CONTROL MECHANISM cRoss-REFERENc'E-ro RELATEDAPPLICATION The present application is'acontinuation-in-part of Pat.application Ser. No. 627,803 filed Apr. 3, 1967, by the presentinventor.

BACKGROUNDQF THE INVENTION sures of the mentioned copending applicationand is further j related to the disclosuresandmechanisms of U.S. Pat.No. 3,3l 9,959issued May 16, 1967,10 the present inventor.

' SUMMARYOFTI-IE INVENTION Briefly stated, the present inventionprovides a mechanism for intercepting the impact forces deliveredagainst a pit cushion by a bowling ball. The mechanism permits pivotedmovement of the pit cushionwith such pivoted movement being resisted bya dashpot assembly that can be adjusted to provide thedesired resulteven though the ball impact forces are widely varied in magnitude. Aresilient member attached to the pit cushion tends initially to holdthev cushion in a ball receiving position until an initial ball impactis received, and

thereafter the resilientmember acts cooperatively with the ball impactforce to move the cushion against resistance forces provided by thedashpot assembly to an alternate out of the I Way position permittingearly passage of the ball out of the pit and toward the ball returncomponents of the pin setting mechanism. An actuator unit similar tothat shown in the mentioned earlier application is incorporated toinitiate early cycling movement of the pin setting mechanism which isaccompanied by the raising of the pit cushion supports. Thischaracteristic movement of the pit cushion supports is usedcooperatively with thedashpot assemblies and mounting arrangement toreset the. resilientelement for subsequent ball intercepting purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation in partialsection showing an at rest position for the pit cushion and itsassociated mounts and controls, I

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing an actuator assembly for saidmechanism with the pit cushion in an at rest position as indicated bysolid lines and inan alternate mechanism initiating position shown indotted outline,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation' with parts shown in section illustrating thepit cushion mount and its associated controls in a ball passing positionas shown in solid lines and in an alternate elevated reset position asindicated by dotted line representations, and H 'FIG. 4 is a top viewseparately showing features of the dashpot assembly.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Specific advantages of the.present invention will become more apparent from a description of thefeatures illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. Before such description,however, it should be noted that while the features of this inventionare adaptable to use in various types .of bowling machines, the

present description will, in' general, be limited to the structuralfeatures of modified apparatus designed specifically for incorporationin existing bowling machinesof the Brunswick (A) type. For suchinstallations the presentv invention provides means for substantiallyreducing the shock loadings on the pit cushion 'mount arms. Inadditionto the elimination of arm breakage and other maintenance problems, thepresent invention is provided to speed the ball return time for such pinsetting machines by modifying the rebound characteristics of bowlingballs that hit the pit cushion and by permitting the balls to leave thepit before the pit cushion arms are raised.

A function of the changed mechanisms is to stop, but pass, any ballengaging the pit cushion without excessively rebounding the ball intothe forward regions of the pit where the necessary return movement ofthe ball toward the ball wheel is impeded by fallen pins that aregathering in the pit. Since it is desired to stop the ball with minimumrebound and since the impact characteristics of'balls delivered bydifferent bowlers are markedly varied, it was determined that a firstfunction of the pit cushion mount mechanism should be to receive" theball and thus absorb the inertia of the ball. From other fields it wasknown that the best reception for a moving ball is provided by movementof the receiver. It was further determined that the absorption of impactshock loadings that are of widely varied intensity could best beaccomplished through use of components having a variable resistancecharacteristic that could-be matched to the experienced shock range.

In satisfaction of these'requirements, the applicant provides a pitcushion mount mechanism in which the pit cushion is mounted for pivotalmovementin a position to'intercept delivered balls. Free swingingmovement of the pit cushion, however, is restricted by the use of an aircylinder or dashpot to oppose backward swinging movement of the pitcushion. In the present invention the swinging movement of the pitcushion is further resisted by an overcenter assembly inclusive of aresilient member that initially tends to hold the pit cushion in aforward ball intercepting position. The overcenter assembly which tendsto hold the pit cushion in ball intercept position is furthercooperatively active with ball impact forces to move the pit cushion toa pivoted ball passing position whereby escape of the ball from themachine pit is possibleand is encouraged before the cycle operations ofthe associated pin setting mechanism are effective to elevate the pitcushion support arms. Adjustmentin the reaction force provided by thedashpot is possible througltuse of an air control valve that may beadjusted to increase or decrease the air escape rate for the dashpotmechanisms. The forces applied -by the overcenter assembly are likewiseadjustable in strength and in angle of application to establish a properoperation balance assuring the most efficient operation of themechanism.

Since many features of the present embodiment of the invention aredirectly related to the embodiment presented in the previous applicationSer. No. 627,803, parts having common structural or useagecharacteristics are, in the accompanying FIGS., provided with numberscorresponding with those used in connection with the description of theearlier embodiment.

As in the previous disclosure, the pit cushion support arms 11 areprovided with an offset leg member 56, and a pivot bolt 57 extendsdownwardly to pivotallyv support an offset mount 14 though use of apivot pin 58. In order to assure more accurate placement of all themechanisms with respect to the pit cushion 15, the offset mounts '14 areformed integrally with or welded to pit cushion side plates 95, as shownin FIG. 2. When the side plates are bolted to the pit cushion 15, thedashpot brackets 18 and an actuator mechanism support 33, which isattached to one plate 95, will be properly positioned with respect tothe offset mounts 14 and the curtain supports 59.

The actuator mounting bracket 33 shown in FIG. 2 is positioned at theright side of thepit cushion. as viewed from the rear of the machine.FIGS. 1 and 3 are representative of the elements disposed at the leftside of the pit cushion with the views being taken from a positioncorresponding with the center of the pit cushion. The dashpot supportbrackets 18 are usually used on each end of the pit cushion so thatdashpots 20 may be connected to the pit cushion at each end thereof. Asin previous embodiments of the inventions, the dashpots are operativelypositioned between such brackets 18 and a support 19 disposed on a rearwall ofconventional bowling machine installations. In Pins 16 and 17allow pivotal movement of the dashpot ends with respect to the support19 or the pit cushion 15.

The dashpots 20 are provided with air control valves having a threadedadjusting stem so that the size of the air escape orifice within thevalve 25 may be changed if it is desirable to adjust the reactioncharacteristics of the air cylinder 20. With the assembly as describedthe pit cushion 15 will normally be disposed in dependent relationshipfrom the pit cushion support arms 11 for swinging movement about thepivot pin 58. With the proper balance and weight of the elements, thepit cushion 15 will be held in an at rest position which is inclined tothe horizontal at an angle of approximately 45 to 80. This angularinclination again tends to direct the course of any rebounded balldownwardly into the pit rather than forwardly to the front of the pitand toward the bowler.

The pit cushion is not free to swing pivotally about its supportingpivot pin 58. As in the previous disclosure, the swinging movement isresisted by the dashpot 20. In this embodi ment it is further resistedby an overcenter assembly 70, the positioning and operation of which isdisclosed in FIGS. 1 and 3. The lower anchor 73 for such assembly isjoined to the pit cushion 15 by a pivot pin and bracket (not shown)disposed at a level that may be vertically coincident with the dashpotmounting pin 17 but in a lateral position substantially aligned with thepit cushion support arms 11. An upper anchor 74 is engaged with the foot75 of a moving bracket 77 that is pivotally secured to the pit cushionsupport arm 11 by a pivot 78. Anchor 73 or 74 provides a threadedadjustment 79 for changing the tension in an overcenter resilient memberor spring 80. In addition to this adjustment for changing theaction-reaction force of the overcenter assembly, a positioning screw 81is provided for adjusting the angular position of the 7 bracket 77 canbring the anchors 73 and 74 to a positionwherein the action force forthe spring 80 is in an overcenter position as shown in FIG. 1 wherebythe force exerted by the overcenter resilient member or spring 80 willtend to hold the cushion 15 in a ball intercepting at rest position.When the cushion is in this forward intercept position as shown in FIG.1, further spring powered movement of the cushion to a vertical or otherforwardly rotated position is limited by the stop nuts 82 and adjustingnuts 83 on control rod 84 of dashpot cylinders 20 (see FIG. 4).Accordingly, close adjustment of the angular position of the cushion 15in its at rest position is possible. After the cushion is again loweredto the ball intercepting position, the spring on control rod 84 isoperative together with the overcenter positioned spring 80 to hold thepit cushion 15 in the at rest position thereby preventing a recycling ofthe machine due to action of the actuator mechanism. The control rodspring is compressed when the pit cushion is in its raised position, andit, accordingly, helps to cock or reset the overcenter assembly.

The main force tending to hold the cushion in the at rest position maybe adjusted by changing the threaded tension adjustment 79, or it may bechanged by altering the angle of force application by adjustments madein positioning screw 81. In order to obtain the most efficientoperation, the force exerted by the overcenter mechanism 70 should beadjusted so that a ball hand placed on a mechanically shaken pit rug atthe bottom of the pin setting machine (not shown) and moved toward thecushion 15 by agitation of the rug will exert sufficient force againstthe cushion to move the cushion away from its at rest position, as shownin FIG. 1, and past the dead center point for the spring 80. As soon assuch mechanism is moved past dead centeras shown by the full linerepresentation in FIG. 3, the forces exerted by the spring 80 will tendto move the cushion rearwardly to elevate the bottom of the cushion andto permit passage ofa bowling ball. Movement to this ball passingposition is energized by the spring and by a ball impact forces and isresisted by the dashpot ZO. The dashpot must be adjusted to permit thespring force alone to rotate the pit cushion to a ball passing positionwhile it is still set to provide adequate resistance to counteractviolent movements of the pit cushion 15 when a fast ball is directlyimpacted against the bottom of the cushion.

Movement of the pit cushion activates the overcenter assembly, and thesame movement or an overcenter assembly reinforced movement istransmitted to the actuator mechanisms of the bowling machineftoinitiate the recycle functions of the machine. The triggering mechanismof the mentioned last previous disclosure may be used to initiate cyclicoperations of the pin setting machine. The actuator mechanism shown inFIG. 2 is again designed to transmit movement of the pit cushion toactuator lever 51, which is a component of the original Brunswick (A)type machines. A support 69 is attached to the transmission housing 68of such machines, and an arm 71 extends upwardly to provide a fulcrum 72for a lever arm 66. One end of said lever arm is connected to a Uniball46, and the other end is connected by a pin 67 to connecting rod 64. Thelower end of the connecting rod 64 is connected to actuator mountingbracket 33 on one of the pit cushion side plates 95. Clevises 62 and 63at the top and bottom ends of connecting rod 64 are joined totelescoping rods 38 and 36, respectively. These telescoping rods arereceived within the barrel 37 of the connecting rod assembly 64 and canbe moved reciprocally therein. Adjusting rod 38 is normally held infixed position with respect to the barrel 37 by tightening a lock pin 35which passes through collar 40 to engage rod 38. Reciprocal movement oftelescoping rod 36 is resisted or energized by a spring (not shown). Theinitial tension or resistance to contraction or extension of the springshould always be sufficient so that the movement of mounting bracket 33will result in a corresponding movement of the free end pin 67 of thelever arm 66. The compression force of the spring issuch that it will beovercome by any upward movement of the pit cushion support arms 11 sothat the rod 36 will be telescoped within the barrel 37 to preventdamage to the lever arm 66 that moves the actuator levers 51.

The telescoping function of the connecting rod '64 permits the requiredupward movement of the pit cushion and its support arms 11 when thecyclic operations of the bowling machine have been initiated by movementof the actuator lever 51. The movement which initiates such cycleoperation of the mechanism is accomplished when a bowling ball is movedagainst the pit cushion 15. Contact between the ball and pit cushionwill move the free end of the cushion upwardly, as illustrated by thedotted line representation of FIG. 2. As the free end moves upwardly,the actuator mounting bracket 33 will be rotated with respect to thepivot 58 to pull downwardly on connecting rod 64 and to consequentlymove Uniball 46 on lever arm 66 upwardly. A stop pin 76 extendinglaterally from the lever arm 66 will be moved away from the arm 71. Atthe same time the push rod 47 will exert a force against the Uniball 48to rotate the actuator lever 51. Movement of the actuator 51 engagesclutches of the bowling pin mechanism so that the support arms 11 willbe raised. On upward movement of the support arms 11 the lever arm 66will be rotated in the reverse direction to its at rest position asshown in FIG. 2 with stop pin 76 against the arm 71 and the push rod 47moved reciprocally away from the Uniball 48. With further movement ofthe lever arm 66 being blocked by the stop pin 76, the rod 36 will betelescoped within the barrel 37 of connecting rod 64.

As the cushion moves upwardly the air cylinder 20 will be fullycontracted in length by reason of the ball impact, the action of spring80 or by reason of the upward movement of the cushion support arms 11until the stop collar 23 is engaged against the barrel of the aircylinder 20 as shown in alternate position in FIG. 3. Even with thisshortened length the cylinder causes interference between the supports19 and 18. Accordingly, as the-cushion comes to an otherwise interferingposition as shown in dotted outline, the overcenter assembly 70 will bereturned or reset by such interference to its overcenter position withrespect to pivot 58 which corresponds to that initially shown in FIG. 1.

As the cushion 15 is rerotat'ed to its at rest position by reason ofsuch interference, the resilient element or spring 80 will again betensioned to hold the cushion in its at rest position. When the supportarms 11 and pit cushion 15 are again lowered by operation of themachine, the pit cushion will be held in its at rest position until thecushion is fully lowered by the support arms 11. The cushion will,accordingly, be in place to intercept and absorb the impact forces of anext bowling ball; in order to prevent the dashpot from staying in itscontracted relationship as the cushion is lowered, an auxiliary aircheck valve 22 is used to-admit air into the dashpot 20. This preventsthe overcenter assembly from being tripped. The

check valve is, of course-set to block an outward flow of air from thedashpot when impact forces are directed against the pit cushion.

As in the previous embodiments of the invention, the adjustment providedby the bolt 57 on support arm 11 can be used to properly adjust thepositioning of the cushion in the bowling machine pit. Once thisadjustment has been made the effective length of the connecting rod 64can be adjusted by reciprocally positioning the rod 38 in the barrel 37.

These adjustments and a further adjustment in the effective length ofthe dashpot control rod 84 are necessary to accommodate for the changesin the configuration of the already in- 'nonaligned position withrespect to said pivot for resisting movement of said pit cushion awayfrom the ball intercepting position for the absorption of ball impactforces.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient means is aspring.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient means isfurther positioned and biased to assist movement of said pit cushion tothe ball passing position after a ball is impacted against said pitcushion.

4. Structureas set forth in claim 3 wherein said resilient means is aspring and further comprising adjustment means for changing the springforce for holding the pit cushion in the terconnected to said driveelements for holding the said pit cushion in lowered operativepositionacross the rear of the pit for the interception of bowling balls andalternately in a raised out of the way position and a machine actuatormechanism for initiation of the cyclic operations of the machine, animproved pit cushion mount comprising a pivot disposed on said supportarms, means engaging said pit cushion to said pivot whereby said pivotis coactive between said support arms and pit cushion for permittingmovement of said pit cushion with respect to said support arms to ballintercepting and ball passing positions, resilient means operativelyinterconnected to said pit cushion for alternately holding said pitcushion in the ball intercepting position before a ball is impactedthereagainst and in the ball passing position afterball impact, and adashpot cylinder engaged to said pit cushion in a ball interceptingposition.

5. Structure as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising adjustmentmeans intermediate said support arms and pit cushion for accuratelypositioning the pit cushion for useage to intercept bowling balls,' andlength adjusting means for said dashpot cylinder for holding said pitcushion at an angularly disgiosed intercepting position.

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient means isdisposed for overcenter reaction with respect to said pivot.

7. Structure as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising alignmentadjustment means for establishing and adjusting the overcenterpositioning of said resilient means with respect to said pivot.

8, Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said dashpot cylinderis disposed in interfering position with respect to a pit cushion in theball passing position when the pit cushion is raised to the out of wayposition by the machine drive elements of the bowling pin spottingmachine whereby said pit cushion is returned to its ball interceptingposition.

9. Structure as set forth in claim 8 and further comprising a resilientelement for normally holding said dashpot cylinder in extended position,and adjustment means for changing the length of said dashpot cylinder.

10. Improved bowling machine apparatus comprising a general framestructure, a pit cushion within said machine, support arms for holdingthe said pit cushion in operative position for the interception ofbowling balls, a pivot disposed on said support arms, meansinterengaging said pit cushion and pivot whereby said pivot is coactivebetween said support arms and pit cushion for permitting movement ofsaid pit cushion with respect to said support arms to the ballintercepting and ball passing positions, resilient means operativelyinterconnected to said pit cushion'for alternately holding said pitcushion in the ball intercepting position before a ball is impactedthereagainst and in the ball passing position after ball impact, andshock absorbing means for the absorption of ball impact forces engagedto said pit cushion in a nonaligned position with respect to said pivotfor resisting movement of said pit cushion away from the ballintercepting position.

11. Structure as set forthin claim 10 wherein said resilient means isdisposed for overcenter reaction with respect to said pivot.

